Lauren Barnes

Lauren Barnes

Barnes playing for Seattle Reign FC in 2013
Personal information
Full nameLauren Barnes
Date of birthMay 31, 1989
Place of birthArcadia, California, United States
Height5 ft 5 in (1.65 m)
Playing positionDefender
Club information
Current team
Melbourne Victory on loan from Seattle Reign FC
Number5
Youth career
Arsenal FC
Beach FC
2007-2010UCLA Bruins
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2011Philadelphia Independence10(2)
2013–Seattle Reign FC45(0)
2014→ Melbourne Victory (guest player)5(2)
2014→ Melbourne Victory (loan)0(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of September 14, 2014.
† Appearances (Goals).

Lauren Barnes (born May 31, 1989) is an American professional soccer defender. She currently plays for Melbourne Victory in the Australian W-League on loan from NWSL club Seattle Reign FC and is a former member of the United States U-23 women's national soccer team. She previously played for the Philadelphia Independence in the WPS.

Early life

Barnes was born in Arcadia, California to parents, Joyce and Gary Barnes. She attended Upland High School in Upland, California where she was a four-time first-team All-CIF selection. She was rated as the number two overall recruit in the nation by RISE Magazine and Soccer Buzz and was named Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of California. In 2005 and 2006 she was named Parade All-American, NSCAA/adidas Girls Youth All-American, and 2006 CIF-Southern Section Co-Player of the Year. In addition to her high school play, Barnes played for local club soccer team, Arsenal FC.[1]

UCLA

Barnes attended UCLA where she played for the Bruins from 2007-2010. During her freshman year, she finished the season with one goal and three assists for a total of five points. She was one of six players and just two freshman to start all 24 matches for the team. She was named to the Soccer America Freshman All-American and Pac-10 All-Freshman Teams. She scored her lone goal for the season in a 3-1 victory over Arizona State and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 3-2 NCAA Quarterfinal victory over University of Portland. During her sophomore year, Barnes appeared in all 25 matches, starting 24. She ended the season with six points (six assists). Barnes helped the UCLA defense rank first in the country in goals against average (0.23), allowing only six goals in 25 matches. In 2009, Barnes was one of just three players who started all 25 matches and ranked fourth on the team in scoring with 14 points (two goals and ten assists). She tied with Lauren Cheney for the team lead in assists with 10. A powerhouse when under pressure, Barnes scored the game-winning goal in a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Arizona State. During her senior year, Barnes played and started 22 of 23 matches. She was a leader of the Bruin defense that surrendered less than a goal a game (0.84). Under her direction, the defense posted nine shutouts in 23 matches. She was also a contributor for the offense, ranking second on the team in scoring with 16 points (scoring five goals and providing six assists). She scored game-winning goals in wins over San Diego and Washington State and assisted on the game-winning goal in a 2-1 victory over the University of Central Florida in the NCAA Second Round. She was a First-Team All-Pac-10 selection and named Third-Team NSCAA All-American.[1][2][3][4]

Playing career

Club

Philadelphia Independence, 2011

Barnes was selected in the third round (fifteenth overall) of the 2011 WPS Draft by the Philadelphia Independence.[5] She made ten appearances for the team scoring two goals.[6][7]

Seattle Reign FC, 2013–present

External video
Barnes' last-minute save vs FC Kansas City on June 9, 2013 retrieved 8/24/2013

Barnes was selected by the Seattle Reign FC during the 2013 NWSL Supplemental Draft as their second pick (tenth pick overall).[8][9][10] Barnes was key component in the Reign's defense playing primarily as a center-back for the squad throughout the 2013 season. During a home match against FC Kansas City on June 9, 2013, her defensive skill was especially highlighted when she reached a shot just before it crossed the goal line that had bounced over goalkeeper Hope Solo's head. With a diving tackle into the netting, Barnes tipped the ball over the crossbar and out of the goal.[11] Along with teammate Christine Nairn, Barnes was one of only two players on the Reign to play in all 22 matches during the 2013 season. She was the only player to start every game tallying 1,949 minutes. After the season ended, Barnes earned team honors for Defender of the Year.[12][13][14]

Barnes returned to the Reign for the 2014 season. The team set a league record unbeaten streak of 16 games during the first part of the season. During the 16 game stretch, the Reign compiled a 13-0-3 record.[15] The Reign finished first in the regular season clinching the NWSL Shield for the first time.[16] After defeating the Washington Spirit 2-1 in the playoff semi-finals, the Reign were defeated 2-1 by FC Kansas City during the championship final.[17] Following the regular season, Barnes along with goalkeeper Hope Solo and fellow defender Stephanie Cox were named to the Second XI team.[18] Barnes finished the 2014 season having started in 22 of the 23 games in which she played.[19]

Melbourne Victory, 2014

In January 2014, Barnes joined Seattle Reign FC teammate Jess Fishlock on the Melbourne Victory squad in Australia's W-League as a guest player from the Reign.[20] During her five appearances for the team, she scored two goals and helped the team win the Grand Final where the Victory defeated Brisbane Roar 2–0. Barnes scored the Victory's second goal of the match. The win marked the Victory's first Grand Final title in the history of the team.[21]

Following her successful guest stint, Barnes signed with Melbourne Victory the following season on a loan deal.[22]

International

Barnes has represented the United States at the U-15, U-20, and U-23 levels.[1] In 2010, she helped lead the U-23 team to the 2010 Four Nations Tournament title.[23]

Coaching career

In 2012, Barnes was an assistant coach for UC Riverside.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Lauren Barnes player profile". UCLA. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "College: Women's D1 All-Americans". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  3. ↑ "College: UCLA heads to Sweet 16". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  4. ↑ "College: UCLA tops BYU on PKs". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  5. ↑ "Former UCLA women’s soccer players picked in 2011 Women's Professional Soccer Draft". UCLA Daily Bruin. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Lauren Barnes staff profile". UC Riverside. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "WPS Draft: Alex Morgan is top pick". ESPN. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  8. ↑ "Results: Ochs taken first in NWSL Supplemental Draft". Equalizer Soccer. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Seattle Reign picks six in NWSL Supplemental Draft, rumored to be acquiring Veronica Perez". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  10. ↑ Drot, Karen. "Seattle Reign FC Supplemental Draft Recap". NWSL News. Retrieved 21 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Erika Tymrak’s late goal leads FC Kansas City past the Seattle Reign FC, 1-0". NWSL News. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "2013 Team Awards". Seattle Reign FC. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Megan Rapinoe to return to Lyon for their 2013-14 season". Sounder at Heart. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Seattle Reign FC reflect on first NWSL season". Goal WA. Retrieved 24 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Seattle Reign FC sees unbeaten streak end at 16". The Seattle Times. July 12, 2014. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
  16. ↑ "Reign Dominate Dash to Clinch Shield". Sounder at Heart. July 30, 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  17. ↑ Bird, Liviu (August 31, 2014). "FC Kansas City beats Seattle Reign to win NWSL championship". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  18. ↑ "NWSL Announces 2014 Best XI". National Women's Soccer League. August 29, 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
  19. ↑ "2014 Player Statistics". National Women's Soccer League. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  20. ↑ Trantino, Julian (January 17, 2014). "Barnes joins Melbourne Victory". Football Federation Victoria. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "W-League grand final: Melbourne Victory beat Brisbane Roar for first title". The Guardian. February 23, 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  22. ↑ "Victory secure American defender". Football Federation Australia. 27 August 2014.
  23. ↑ "Seattle Reign FC sign Supplemental Draft pick Lauren Barnes". NWSL News. Retrieved 24 August 2013.

External links